Improvement in instep-holders



J. H. WOODBURY. Instep-Holder No. 200,785. Patented Feb. 26,1878.

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webbing, or any other suitable material.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. WOODBURY, O13 ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN INSTEP-HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,785, dated February 26, 1878; application filed November 9, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. WOODBURY, of the city and county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Instep-Holder, of which the following is a full and exact description.

My invention consists of the band herein shown and described, which, when applied to the instep of the foot, holds the tarsal and metatarsal bones snugly together, so as to transfer the pressure of the boot or shoe to the instep, which, from its arch-like form, can best resist such pressure. By this means the toes and joints are relieved from the chafing and pressure against the boot by which the injury to these parts is commonly effected.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a pattern form of my band before the two ends are joined together; and Fig. 2 shows the band as applied to the foot, the latter being shown in a faint outline in order to exhibit the upper and lower parts of the band.

As shown in the drawing, A is the band, which I preferably make of felt; but it may be made of cloth, leather, buckskin, elastic ]t is provided with an anterior point, a, which extends downward toward the toes, clearing the two outer toe-joints, and a posterior point, b, running up on the instep near the anklejoint, the narrower portions of it being arranged at the sides of the foot, and the balance of it under the hollow of the foot, so as to complete the encompassing of the tarsal and metatarsal bones, so as to support them and prevent them from spreading while sustaining the weight of the body.

' This band is worn inside of the boot, either under or over the stocking, at the option of the wearer; and by drawing together the bones of the foot, hereinbefore referred to, the toes are spread apart and prevented from chafing each other, and by causing the boot to snugly encircle the instep the foot is prevented from rubbing and pressing against the boot to create any of the many afflictions common to this part of the human form.

I claim as my invention-- As a new article of manufacture, the instepholder A herein described, consisting of an endless band of suitable material, for encompassing the instep and giving support to the tarsal and metatarsal bones, as herein set forth.

JOHN H. WOODBURY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. Low, E. J. BENNETT. 

